Last checked
May 22, 2026
We checked the page logic, support notes, and related links on this page.
Project planner
Plan the tile build-up before buying boxes
Tile jobs go wrong when the boxes are counted but the substrate, backer board, adhesive, grout, trims, waterproofing, prep, and labour are not priced clearly.
5 linked calculatorsScope checklistProject sequence
tile prep plannertile material calculatortile adhesive and grout calculator
How to use it
Planning before buying
Use this planner to keep the measurements, material list, and quote scope aligned before anyone prices the work.
Why trust it
See how the site is maintained
Read the calculator methodology and editorial policy for the standards behind these pages.
Measure first
Take these measurements once, then reuse them through the calculators so the order, budget, and quote request stay aligned.
- Tiled area
- Tile size and box coverage
- Backer board coverage
- Adhesive coverage
- Grout joint width and product coverage
Planning order
Work through the job in this order so the visible finish, hidden layers, accessories, and cost checks are not priced as separate guesses.
Step 1
Measure the tiled area
Split walls, floors, splashbacks, niches, and openings before calculating boxes. Waste changes quickly when the layout has many cuts.
Open Tile CalculatorStep 2
Check the prep board layer
Backer board coverage, board direction, joint positions, and cuts need their own buying check before tile adhesive is estimated.
Open Tile Backer Board CalculatorStep 3
Estimate adhesive and grout
Use the product coverage, tile size, bed depth, joint width, and grout type instead of relying on a broad allowance.
Open Tile Adhesive CalculatorStep 4
Sense-check the installed cost
Compare tiles, prep, waterproofing, trims, adhesive, grout, labour, disposal, and contingency before requesting quotes.
Open Tiling Cost CalculatorCalculators in this plan
Each calculator covers one decision in the job: quantity, coverage, depth, fixings, accessories, or budget. Keep the outputs together when you build the buying list.
Step 1Tiles and finishes
Tile Calculator
Estimate tile count, boxes, waste, and rough material cost for wall and floor tiling.
Open calculatorStep 2Tiles and finishes
Tile Backer Board Calculator
Estimate tile backer board sheets or packs and rough cost for wall and floor prep.
Open calculatorStep 3Tiles and finishes
Tile Adhesive Calculator
Estimate tile adhesive bags and rough cost from wall or floor tile area.
Open calculatorStep 4Tiles and finishes
Tile Grout Calculator
Estimate tile grout quantities and rough cost from tiled area and product coverage.
Open calculatorStep 5Project costs
Tiling Cost Calculator
Estimate tiling materials, labour, prep, and rough total cost from tiled area, region, and complexity.
Open calculatorMaterial checklist
Treat this as the first pass at the buying list. Add product names, sizes, grades, and exclusions before sending it for a price.
- Tiles
- Backer board
- Tile adhesive
- Grout
- Trim and spacers
- Labour and prep allowance
Common mistakes
These are the places where tidy measurement maths often breaks once products, delivery, site access, and labour are involved.
- Buying tile boxes but missing backer board
- Using adhesive coverage without checking tile size
- Forgetting trim and waterproofing details
Brief to send for pricing
Separate tiles, backer board, primer, waterproofing, adhesive, grout, trims, spacers, cuts, labour, prep, disposal, access, and exclusions.
Guides worth checking
These pages cover the details that usually decide whether the calculator output is safe to order against.
Guide
Tile Backer Board Calculator by Area
Work out how much Tile Backer Board you need from the measured area and a realistic waste allowance.
Guide
Tile Adhesive Buying Guide
Work out a sensible buying quantity for Tile Adhesive before you order.
Guide
Tile Grout Buying Guide
Work out a sensible buying quantity for Tile Grout before you order.
Guide
Tile Waste Allowance Guide
See when tile waste should be low, standard, or higher for more complex layouts.
Related project plans
Open one of these when the job touches another surface, base layer, finish, or outdoor area.
Related workflow6 calculators
Ceiling Plasterboard Planner
A ceiling board job can look simple on area alone, but the real list needs board orientation, fixings, jointing, skim, access, waste, and paint checked together.
Related workflow7 calculators
Room Flooring Planner
Room flooring estimates should connect the floor covering with packs, underlay, trims, skirting, thresholds, subfloor prep, and fitting cost before the order is treated as finished.
Related workflow6 calculators
Patio Planner
A patio order is more than a slab count. Work from the finished area into slabs, Type 1, bedding sand, jointing, edge details, and budget checks before anything is ordered.
Practical answers
Short answers for the decisions that usually come up before ordering materials or sending a quote request.
What should I calculate after tiles?
Check backer board, adhesive, grout, trim, and cost before treating the tile order as complete.
Why use a tile prep workflow?
It keeps substrate prep and finishing materials visible, which makes quotes easier to compare.
What makes tile adhesive estimates unreliable?
Adhesive use changes with tile size, trowel notch, substrate flatness, bed depth, and product coverage, so the bag count should be checked against the actual system.